INSIDE THE WHITE SOX.

Guillen Likes Looks Of Wrigley

Asked Friday if he would be interested in playing shortstop for the Cubs, Guillen's first response was to blurt out his home phone number: "Heck, yes. Tell them to call me at . . ."

The White Sox told Guillen on Thursday they weren't going to pick up the option on his 1998 salary, which would be $4 million. Guillen played short for the Sox the last 13 years.

Lynch, who previously said Manny Alexander would be his 1998 shortstop, backed away from that idea this week.

Guillen, 33, is a native of Venezuela, but he lives in the Chicago area.

"I know I can still play and help a team win," he said.

What about salary?

"We can talk. We can negotiate," Guillen said.

Ventura option OK: Guillen and third baseman Robin Ventura each had one-on-one meetings Friday with Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Unlike Guillen, Ventura left the meeting assured the club will pick up its option to pay him $6 million next season.

"We talked in general terms. He told me the club wanted to pick up my option," Ventura said. "I'm satisfied, pleased with the outcome."

Ventura said the subject wasn't discussed whether the club would include him among 15 players it can protect before the first round of the November expansion draft.

"I'm playing things week by week," said Ventura, who missed most of the season after a serious spring training ankle injury. "He wants me back. I'm glad of that."

Guillen's advice: Guillen said that, "as a friend," he offered Reinsdorf some suggestions about how the Sox might have improved their performance this year.

"I told him, `You have a good club, but you do not have Willie Mays or Rod Carew.' I told him with Robin, Albert (Belle) and Frank (Thomas), he had a chance to win."

Although the meeting with Reinsdorf "left the door open," Guillen said it was unlikely he would return to the Sox as a player. As a coach or manager, though, that's a different story.

"I know how to teach young players," he said. "I can get along with the media."

Guillen said that, for the first time in his 17 years as a pro player, he had difficulty trying to sleep Thursday night.

"I know it was a business situation," Guillen said. "Jerry told me to test the market, and the door would always be open here. But it was like going to Vegas and getting hit by a truck, and they say, `We'll put you in the best hospital.' "

Decisions soon: General Manager Ron Schueler said "by Wednesday, everything will be settled," in regard to questions about some personnel moves and manager Terry Bevington's future.